The collapse of the Moghal Empire, following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, led to a number of powers competing for the power vacuum created. Prominent among these were the English and the French. The advent of European military power into India was to have a major impact on military science in India, hitherto seriously lagging behind Europe. The contribution of the French particularly was significant in the training of Indian Cepayee units in the European fashion, gunnery drills, fortifications and basic infantry tactics. Even after the eclipse of French political power by the English, French military influence continued in the states through some brilliant and colourful French mercenaries. De Boigne with the Sindhias and Allard with Ranjit Singh are only a couple of those whose life and career are sketched vividly, contributing to an understanding of an aspect of Indian military history little known even in Indian military circles.

 

Lt Gen Gurbir Mansingh was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1952. He topped his course at the Indian Military Academy, being awarded the sword of honour as the best all round cadet of his course. In a brilliant and varied career, he has held a series of Command and General Staff appointments. Assignments abroad have included a tenure with a UN peacekeeping force and diplomatic assignments in Iran and Turkey. He is keenly interested in military history, the French in India being of special focus. He is currently a consultant with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, on whose behalf he lectures extensively on International Humanitarian Law and the Laws of Armed Conflict.

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